RISING FROM ROCK BOTTOM: Ohio State Tight End Bennett Christian Turns Lowest Moment into Powerful Source of Inspiration

There are few things more humbling than having to watch the world pass by while standing still. For Ohio State tight end Bennett Christian, this past year tested him in ways that no weight room, no game day, and no film session ever could. After facing a season-long suspension due to a banned substance violation, Christian found himself not just off the field but at what he calls the “very bottom.” And yet, from that place of darkness and isolation, the young man has carved out a story of growth, grit, and determination—one that’s now resonating far beyond the locker room.

The Ohio State football program is a machine built on performance, expectation, and relentless forward motion. For players, especially young ones trying to make their mark, momentum is everything. But in July 2023, that motion came to a screeching halt for Christian. He tested positive for a banned supplement and received a full-year suspension. In a team stacked with talent, losing a year isn’t just a detour—it can be a derailment. But Bennett chose a different path. He didn’t disappear. He didn’t walk away. He owned it. He stayed.

The easy thing to do might have been to transfer, fade into the background, or become just another “what if” in the world of college athletics. But Bennett Christian isn’t built like that. Instead of sulking, he suited up for every practice. He lifted alongside his teammates, ran the same sprints, and sat through every meeting. He embraced the reality that while he couldn’t play, he could still prepare. In doing so, he didn’t just earn the respect of coaches—he inspired the entire locker room.

To understand what makes Bennett’s comeback so compelling, you need to look at his roots. A Tennessee native and son of a former NFL tight end, Christian arrived at Ohio State as a physical specimen and a passionate competitor. Football wasn’t just a sport—it was his family’s legacy. And that legacy, at least for a moment, felt as though it might have been tarnished. But Bennett quickly realized that the measure of a man isn’t how he performs when things go right, but how he responds when everything goes wrong.

The year off the field forced Christian to take a long, hard look at himself. He dove into personal growth, leaning into his faith and inner resolve. He became more than a tight end—he became a leader. Younger players began to gravitate toward him, drawn to his accountability and willingness to be open about his struggles. In a sport often defined by bravado, Bennett offered honesty. He admitted his mistake, and then went to work every single day to become a better version of himself.

Head coach Ryan Day and tight ends coach Keenan Bailey both pointed out the rarity of Christian’s mindset. Most players in his situation would have checked out. Many wouldn’t have had the resilience to face their teammates every day. But Bennett didn’t just show up—he showed out. He turned his suspension into motivation, using every lift, every rep, and every team meeting as fuel for the comeback. According to teammates, his voice became louder in team huddles, his energy more contagious, and his leadership undeniable.

As spring practices rolled around in 2024, it became clear that Christian hadn’t wasted a moment of his exile. His body was leaner, faster, and stronger. His understanding of the playbook had deepened. But perhaps more importantly, his mental toughness had evolved. Christian no longer played with something to prove to others. He played with something to prove to himself—that the pain, the shame, and the long road back had meaning. That the bottom wasn’t the end. It was the beginning.

Teammates describe Christian as one of the most mature and focused individuals in the locker room. He’s spoken to high school teams about mental health, personal responsibility, and the importance of perseverance. He’s used his platform to warn others about the dangers of supplement use and the importance of reading every label. Rather than sweep the incident under the rug, Christian has made it a cornerstone of his journey—a moment that could have defined his downfall instead serving as the foundation of his rise.

And rise he has.

As the 2025 season looms, Bennett Christian is poised not just to return, but to make a real impact on the field. With Cade Stover now in the NFL, there’s a vacancy at the tight end position, and Christian’s time in the shadows might just have prepared him to seize the spotlight. Coaches rave about his improved hands, crisp route-running, and willingness to block with ferocity. More than that, they talk about his presence—a young man who leads by example, who never takes a snap for granted, and who elevates those around him.

For fans, Bennett’s return will mark more than just another piece of the Ohio State offensive puzzle falling into place. It represents redemption, growth, and the unyielding power of belief. Every catch he makes, every block he throws, and every touchdown he celebrates will be the culmination of a journey that started not with glory, but with humility. And that’s what makes it so powerful.

What Bennett Christian has learned over the past year can’t be measured by stats or combine results. It’s the kind of transformation that only adversity can spark. He’s discovered the strength that comes from accountability, the clarity that arises when distractions are stripped away, and the resilience born from daily battles fought far from the bright lights of game day.

In many ways, Christian has become the heartbeat of the Buckeyes—a reminder that real champions aren’t just made on Saturdays. They’re forged in early morning lifts, late-night film sessions, and those quiet moments when no one is watching. His teammates see it. His coaches see it. And soon, the college football world will see it too.

When he runs out of the tunnel at Ohio Stadium for the first time since his suspension, the roar from the crowd won’t just be for a tight end returning to action. It’ll be for a young man who took the hardest moment of his life and used it as fuel. It’ll be for a warrior who stayed when he could have walked away. It’ll be for Bennett Christian—the embodiment of grit, grace, and the relentless will to rise.

Christian’s story now serves as a quiet undercurrent running through the Ohio State locker room. When players talk about staying the course, they point to him. When a younger Buckeye gets frustrated with their role, Christian’s name comes up as a reminder of what patience and perseverance look like. In a culture often dominated by instant gratification and social media highlights, Bennett is a throwback—proof that sometimes the most important part of the journey is the valley before the peak.

There’s an old saying in football that you have to lose something to truly appreciate it. Bennett Christian lived that truth. He lost a year of eligibility, a season of potential breakout moments, and a chance to prove himself when the lights were brightest. But in return, he gained something far greater. He gained clarity. He gained character. He gained the kind of inner strength that not only fuels a comeback but leaves a legacy.

The coming season will provide Bennett the chance to finally unleash everything he’s built during his time in the shadows. Opposing defenses will see the physical transformation. But it’s the mental and emotional evolution that might be most dangerous. Because now, Christian plays with purpose. He plays for those who’ve stumbled. He plays to prove that one misstep doesn’t define you—it refines you.

In a sport that often celebrates highlight reels, it’s Bennett’s lowlight—the suspension—that might become the most inspiring chapter of his story. Not because it defines him, but because of what he did after. And that’s what sets Bennett Christian apart.

From rock bottom to the Buckeye spotlight, he’s taken every step with humility, drive, and a belief that even the worst days have value if you refuse to stay down. And in doing so, he hasn’t just earned another shot—he’s become a symbol of what it means to fight for every yard, on and off the field.